Current atmospheric models underestimate the production of organic acids in the troposphere. We report a detailed kinetic model of the photochemistry of acetaldehyde (ethanal) under tropospheric conditions. The rate constants are benchmarked to collision-free experiments, where extensive photo-isomerization is observed upon irradiation with actinic ultraviolet radiation (310 to 330 nanometers). The model quantitatively reproduces the experiments and shows unequivocally that keto-enol photo-tautomerization, forming vinyl alcohol (ethenol), is the crucial first step. When collisions at atmospheric pressure are included, the model quantitatively reproduces previously reported quantum yields for photodissociation at all pressures and wavelengths. The model also predicts that 21 ± 4% of the initially excited acetaldehyde forms stable vinyl alcohol, a known precursor to organic acid formation, which may help to account for the production of organic acids in the troposphere.

Analogues of the natural product gallinamide A were prepared to elucidate novel inhibitors of the falcipain cysteine proteases. Analogues exhibited potent inhibition of falcipain-2 (FP-2) and falcipain-3 (FP-3) and of the development of Plasmodium falciparum in vitro. Several compounds were equipotent to chloroquine as inhibitors of the 3D7 strain of P. falciparum and maintained potent activity against the chloroquine-resistant Dd2 parasite. These compounds serve as promising leads for the development of novel antimalarial agents.

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The emergence of polymyxin resistance in carbapenem-resistant and extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)–producing bacteria is a critical threat to human health, and alternative treatment strategies are urgently required. We investigated the ability of the hydroxyquinoline analog ionophore PBT2 to restore antibiotic sensitivity in polymyxin-resistant, ESBL-producing, carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative human pathogens. PBT2 resensitized Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Acinetobacter baumannii, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa to last-resort polymyxin class antibiotics, including the less toxic next-generation polymyxin derivative FADDI-287, in vitro. We were unable to select for mutants resistant to PBT2 + FADDI-287 in polymyxin-resistant E. coli containing a plasmid-borne mcr-1 gene or K. pneumoniae carrying a chromosomal mgrB mutation. Using a highly invasive K. pneumoniae strain engineered for polymyxin resistance through mgrB mutation, we successfully demonstrated the efficacy of PBT2 + polymyxin (colistin or FADDI-287) for the treatment of Gram-negative sepsis in immunocompetent mice. In comparison to polymyxin alone, the combination of PBT2 + polymyxin improved survival and reduced bacterial dissemination to the lungs and spleen of infected mice. These data present a treatment modality to break antibiotic resistance in high-priority polymyxin-resistant Gram-negative pathogens.

The first total synthesis of symplostatin 4, a marine cyanobacterium-derived natural product, is described. Notable features of the route include the efficient preparation of three key fragments and final assembly to the natural product via sequential imide and amide couplings. Symplostatin 4 was also demonstrated to possess significant antimalarial activity (ED(50) of 74 nM against Plasmodium falciparum, strain 3D7).